Open pacing mares were out and strutting their stuff on Monday (July 13) at Red Shores’ Summerside Raceway, as a pair of $2,400 Governor’s Plate eliminations, part of Governor’s Plate Week at the island raceway, were in the spotlight.
Standout Articulator mare Ramblinglily pushed her career bankroll over the $100,000 on Monday, as the student of trainer Allan Jones was tops in her elimination, which was carded as Race 8 on the program.
Pilot Walter Cheverie was up behind the five-year-old bay, and the duo were the fastest off the wings from Post 2. The career winner of 26 races was first to every call and stepped to a two and three-quarter-length victory in 1:57.2.
After having gotten down to the opening quarter in :28.3, Ramblinglily clicked off the middle fractions in :58.3 and 1:28.2 before coming home with a 29-second final quarter.
Dirt Track Momma (driven by Marc Campbell) finished second and Veronicavermillion (Michael McGuigan) was third. General Luckypercy (Gilles Barrieau) and Stayoutofmyaffair (Jason Hughes) picked up the final two purse cheques, respectively.
Ramblinglily was sent off as the odds-on choice and returned $2.30 on a successful Win wager. She topped an $8.90 exactor and a $50.05 triactor.
Ramblinglily is owned by Allan Jones (her trainer, who resides in Riverview, NB) and Normand Leger of Shediac, NB.
In the second elimination (Race 11), the Brendan Curran-trained Willow Warrior was too much for the rest of the field to handle, as the Western Terror lass shrugged off her Post 7 start and went on for a convincing three-length victory in 1:58.2.
Sent off as the slight 3-1 second choice, Willow Warrior sized up her foes early, as pilot Mark Bradley had the bay in fourth as the :29.3 opening quarter flashed to life. Opting to not wait around and see what transpired from that point on, Bradley moved his charge during the second quarter. The pair was overland and fighting for the top spot as the half-mile clocked clicked off in 1:01.3.
The fight was over by the time the three-quarters of a mile clock came to life, as Willow Warrior had opened up almost three lengths on the field. She froze the timer in 1:30.2 and was ready to pour it on.
And pour it on she did.
Willow Warrior was five lengths the best at the head of the lane and came home with a 28-second final quarter to win by three lengths.
Brodys Leona (Corey MacPherson) finished second and For All We Know (Gary Chappell) was third. Bunny Mach (Jason Hughes) and Rose Valley (Kenny Arsenault) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Willow Warrior is owned by Alby Curran of Vernon Bridge, PEI. She paid $8.00 on a successful Win wager and topped a $229.25 exactor and a $238.30 triactor. It was her ninth career win from what was her 27th career start.
The final of the Governor’s Plate will be raced this coming Sunday (July 19) at Summerside.
In addition to the Governor’s Plate eliminations, Atlantic Sires Stakes dashes and memorial races were also on the docket.
To view the harness racing results for Monday at Summerside, click the following link: Monday Results – Summerside Raceway.